A consortium led by Amec Foster Wheeler has been awarded a contract to examine the future decommissioning of the Iter fusion reactor, currently under construction at Cadarache in the south of France.

Areva and EDF yesterday signed a contract for the sale of Areva NP's reactor business. EDF will take exclusive control of the new entity, referred to as 'New NP' and valued at €2.5 billion ($2.7 billion).

French nuclear power plant operator EDF has improved operational safety over the past two years, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency. However, it noted that more time is needed for further enhancements to be made.

The High Court of Paris has rejected an appeal by EDF's Central Works Council over the court's earlier rejection of its request to suspend the final investment decision for the Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant project in the UK.

EDF's Golfech nuclear power plant in France has demonstrated a strong commitment to safety, an expert team from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has concluded. However, the mission made recommendations to reinforce some safety measures.

The French nuclear safety authority has requested five of EDF's nuclear power units are taken offline for additional inspections on their steam generators within the next three months. The steel in parts of those components has been found to contain high concentrations of carbon.

As the first of three Chinese-supplied electrical transformers is installed at the Iter fusion project in France, researchers in the Netherlands are testing the resistance to neutron radiation of materials that will shield the fusion reactor's core.

Steam generators at Fessenheim and Bugey are the only current areas of action for the French Nuclear Safety Authority, which has published a list of all the uncovered irregularities in manufacturing paperwork.

Ahead of the sale of its reactor business to EDF, Areva has begun the process of splitting off its nuclear fuel cycle activities into a new entity, tentatively referred to as 'New Co'.

The High Court of Paris on 5 August rejected a request by EDF's Central Works Council to suspend the final investment decision for the Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant project in the UK. Meanwhile, China's ambassador to the UK has called for the UK government to make a prompt decision on the project.

France's EDF has extended the accounting depreciation period of its fleet of 900 MWe nuclear power reactors from 40 years to 50 years, the company said last week whilst announcing its results for the first half of 2016.

The European Commission has launched an investigation to determine whether the French government's contribution of €4.0 billion ($4.4 billion) towards the financing of the restructuring of Areva meets EU rules on state aid.